The realization hit him like a tidal wave, and he stumbled back, grasping for words that wouldn’t come. For a moment, I felt a pang of sadness for what could have been, for the relationship that had once held promise. But it was just a fleeting moment, quickly replaced by the understanding that I was finally free.

The black luxury car still waited outside, a symbol of the future that awaited me—a future that was bright and full of potential. The chairman’s secretary stood by, watching the scene unfold with a mixture of sympathy and admiration.

As I stepped outside, the cool breeze wrapped around me, carrying with it a sense of liberation. The world seemed to open up, vast and full of possibilities, and I felt a renewed sense of purpose.

Robert lingered by the door, a shadow of his former self. “Anna,” he called out one last time, a final attempt to bridge the chasm between us.